New Delhi: Even the most optimistic of the Indian fans would not have hoped India would continue to dismiss Sri Lanka’s presence in the ODIs like they did in the longest format of the game. But they and the enthusiastic crowd that turned up for the 1st ODI at Dambulla were in for another shock.
Only colour of the clothes and the ball changed, but not the one-sided contest that the series had been witnessing. India at first took 9 wickets for 77 runs to bowl Sri Lanka out for 216 and then Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli made such a mockery of the target that even the live scorers were gasping for breath. The Men in Blue reached home in 28.4 overs with 8 batsmen still waiting in the hut.
For the record this is India’s biggest win terms of balls to spare.
Dhawan, who by now must be planning to invest or start a business in Sri Lanka carried his Red ball cricket form to the ODIs by registering his 11th century, went on to score 132 off 90 balls at a mind boggling strike rate of 146.66
For once Kohli at the other end happily took the backstage but even then he scored at a strike rate of 117.4 on his way an unbeaten 82. Together the duo put on an unbroken 197-run stand for the second wicket.
Earlier it was the Indian spin troika of Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel and Kedar Jadhav ran through the Sri Lankan middle order to bowl them out for 216.
It looked like a good toss to lose for Sri Lanka as openers Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka gave them a perfect start by stitching a 74 run partnership just shy under a run a ball.
The introduction of Chahal in the 12th over of the Lankan innings saw a change in momentum as the leg spinner bowled a couple of tight overs. The pressure of being tied down got to a well settled Gunathilaka. He mistimed a reverse sweep and got hold out at cover for 35.
But Kohli had more up his sleeves. He played a masterstroke by bringing Kedar Jadhav, who now cannot be called a mere part-timer into the attack in the 21st over.
Dickwella, who was looking a million dollars till then, also, registering his 5th ODI fifty, fell prey to a Jadhav slider for 64. That was it, the slide had begun.
Axar Patel then came to the party to knock over Kusal Mendis with a 105 km/h yorker. The home crowd, which had turned up in numbers then saw some of the most bizarre batting from their side. Captain Tharanga hit a knee-high full toss straight to long-on and soon after Wahidu Hasaranga went for wild heave over mid-wicket only to find Kedar Jadhav at mid on, who took a good catch running backwards.
Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (36*) tried to take the attack to the opposition during the end, but none of others stood by him as Bumrah completed the formalities by knocking over last man Viswa Fernando for a duck.
On his comeback, Axar Patel was the most impressive Indian bowler. He returned with figures of 3 for 34 in his full quota of 10 overs. Chahal, Jadhav and Bumrah all chipped in with 2 wickets a piece on a track which looked a perfect one for the batters.